Christian Brothers Academy returns top player in Luca Dalatri, but Bergen Catholic, Gloucester Catholic, St. Joseph Regional and Don Bosco Prep will be tough to beat in the New Jersey baseball #MaxPrepsFab5.
Devin Ortiz, St. Joseph Regional
File photo by Richard Ta
2016 New Jersey Preseason Baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Christian Brothers Academy (Lincroft)
Head coach: Marty Kenny
2015 record: 26-4
Besides returning State Player of the Year
Luca Dalatri, Christian Brothers Academy returns all-state catcher
Brandon Martorano, who had 11 home runs last year. Dalatri earned all-American honors as well after going 9-0 with 112 strikeouts. He also batted .402 with nine home runs. Christian Brothers defeated Don Bosco Prep for the Non-Public A state championship last year.
See last season's New Jersey baseball computer rankings
2. Bergen Catholic (Oradell)
Head coach: Bob Muggeo
2015 record: 21-9
Eight starters return for Bergen Catholic, including second team all-state junior catcher
David LaManna and third team all-state
Sonny Ulliana. Bergen Catholic reached the semifinals of the Non-Public North A playoffs before falling to Don Bosco Prep.
See New Jersey baseball pro photo galleries
3. Gloucester Catholic (Gloucester City)
Head coach: Mike Rucci
2015 record: 26-5
The Rams have one of the nation's best pitchers in
Tyler Mondile, who went 5-2 last year with 56 strikeouts and just nine walks. He earned first team all-state honors last year. Gloucester Catholic had a senior-dominated team last year, but it still returns 15 lettermen from a team that reached the Non-Public A South semifinals.
See last season's New Jersey baseball playoff brackets
4. St. Joseph Regional (Montvale)
Head coach: Frank Salvano
2015 record: 22-9
St. Joseph Regional returns one of the nation's top juniors in infielder
Devin Ortiz, who earned all-state honors as a sophomore after batting .530 with 40 RBIs and four home runs. St. Joe's also has depth at pitcher with Florida-bound
Austin Bodrato and Rutgers-bound
Joe Neglia.
See last season's New Jersey baseball stat leaders
5. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey)
Head coach: Mike Rooney
2015 record: 31-2
The Ironmen were ranked among the top teams in the nation for most of last year, but fell to Christian Brothers Academy in the Non-Public A final after beating St. Joseph Regional and Bergen Catholic in the earlier playoff rounds. Although two all-state players in Josh Shaw and Tristan Dacey have graduated, the Ironmen return infielder
Alexander Santos and pitcher
Matt Petrosino, who rank among the state's top players.
